WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Is the United States the `` greatest country on earth '' ? You hear that a lot , or phrases like that , during this presidential campaign . Candidates may attack other candidates , or the sitting president , but they never attack the idea that America is special , a `` city upon a hill . '' `` The last , best hope of Earth . ''

It 's part of America 's ideology and its tradition of political rhetoric .

To many Americans ' ears , it sounds normal . But to citizens of other countries it 's sometimes jarring , as if Americans put their country ahead of any other , as if the United States thinks it has the right to tell the rest of the world what to do .

We went to the Jefferson Memorial in Washington , D.C. and asked visitors if they agree America `` knows best '' and the United States has an obligation to spread its values around the world .

Almost everyone we talked with did not agree .

Rachel Army , a teacher with a Washington , D.C. non-governmental organization , said : `` I have a lot of pride in our government however , at the same time , it is ours and I do n't think that it is right to force it on other people . ''

Jermane Bonilla , from Los Angeles , said he thinks the United States is a special country , `` the most powerful nation on earth and the most beautiful country on earth , in my mind . '' But , he told us `` it might not be the same model that everybody should be using . ''

They 're not the exception , it turns out . In their book , `` America Against the World , '' Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut and journalist Bruce Stokes say it 's more often U.S. leaders who want to impose American values in other countries -- not the American people .

The authors analyzed international surveys of people around the globe going back to the 1980 's as well as more than 100,000 interviews in 60 countries .

Their conclusion ? `` Contrary to widespread misconceptions , Americans ' pride in their country is not evangelistic . The American people , as opposed to some of their leaders , seek no converts to their ideology . ''

Citizens of many other countries , too , may think their national way of life is the best but , these authors say , `` they do n't dominate the globe . ''

Americans may not be that different from others but the differences that do exist are magnified , fueling resentment around the world . E-mail to a friend

@highlight

`` U.S.A. the special '' is a staple of political rhetoric

@highlight

Authors find citizens are proud but not evangelistic about the country

@highlight

View is similar to citizens of other countries but it 's magnified by U.S. power